(Marfu’a) - Hadiths where the Isnad comes from the teacher from the collector from the companions.

(Mawqoof) - Hadith Mawqoof is when the Hadith is related by the Sahaba man or woman, but the isnad does not reach Rasulullah .

(Maqtoo’a) - Hadith Maqtoo’a is Hadith where the Tabi’een is the end of the Isnad.

All these three can be Qawli, Fa’ali, or Taqriri.

Sanad is Wajib for Hadiths. In the Isnad of the narration from al-Imam al-Bukhari (Radhi Allahu Anh), there are no more than six (6) persons. One who records Hadiths is called Rawee. Each Rawee must be Salih, Ahlus-Sunnah, sincere, and strict in Deen.

Famous Books of Hadiths

Sahih al-Bukhari- There are 2623 Hadiths in 9 volumes. Imam al-Bukhari was born in 194 A.H. and he demised in 256 A.H. He never had more than six persons in his Isnad.

Sahih Muslim - There are 4,000 Hadiths with the minimum of 4 persons as the Rawee. Hazrat Imam Muslim was born in 204 A.H. and he demised in 260 A.H.

Muwatta al-Imam Malik - He was born 103 A.H. and his demise was 178 or 179 A.H.

Sulayman bin Asyas Sajistani, whose famous name is Abi Dawud. His book Sunan Abu Dawud or Sahih Abu Dawud. He was born in 202 A.H. and his demise was 275 A.H. Sunan are those Hadith which are similar to Fiqh.

Sahih al-Tirmithi - His name was Hazrat Abu Isa Soora. It is also called Jami’a Tirmithi. He was born in 209 A.H. and he was demised in 279 A.H.

Sahih an-Nisa’i - His name was Abu Abdur-Rahman Ahmad ibn Shu’aib. He was born 214 A.H. and he was demised 303 A.H. Hazrat An-Nisa’i had four wives and many children.

Sahih Ibn Majah - is also called Sunan Ibn Majah. His name was Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Yazid bin Abdullah. He was born 209 A.H. and demised 273 A.H.

These are the 6 books of Hadiths which are called Sahih Sitta which are most famous with the most sound tradition. Some include in the Sahih Sitta the Muwatta of Al-Imam Malik (Radhi Allahu Anh) and others include the Sahih Ibn Majah.

Musnad of al-Imam al-A’zam Abu Hanifah (Radhi Allahu Anh), born 80 A.H., deceased 150 A.H., he was the only Imam from the Four Imams who met Sahabi and learned Hadith of Rasulullah (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) and recorded them. Abu Hanifah said, "I was born in the year 80 and in 86 I went on Hajj with my Abi; when I entered Haram Sharif, I saw a group of people sitting before a man as students before a teacher, then I asked my father ‘who is this person,’ and my father answered, ‘this is Abdullah bin Harth. This is a Sahabi of Rasulullah (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim).’ After seeing this man, I wanted to meet him and at that moment he was giving a talk on Hadith and that Hadith was: ‘Whosoever learns knowledge of Shari’ah, Allah will be enough for him and will help him and give him rizq from the ghaib without measure,’ which means that person who seeks knowledge of Al-Islam, for him Allah will be enough, and Allah will grant him rizq from those places he will not even think of. For that person who learns about Islam, Allah will suffice in all his difficulties and he will be helped from unseen places."

The Musnad of al-Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (Radhi Allahu Anh). He was the Imam of Al-Ghawth al-A’zam Sheikh Abdul-Qadir al-Jilani (Rahmatullah Alayh). His kunya is Abu Abdullah Ahmad bin Hanbal. He was born in 164 A.H. and deceased 241 A.H. His musnad is in 6 volumes.

The Musnad of Abu Dawud, deceased 204 A.H.

Abd bin Hunayd

Harath bin Abu Usama

Al-Bazri

Abi Yala

Abu Awana

Sahih Isma’il

Sahih Ibn-e-Habban

Sahih Hateem

Mustaj Karaj Abi Nuam

Musnad Darmi

Sunan Darkutmi

Sunan Abi Muslim

Musnad of Abdur-Razzaq

Musnad of Sa’id bin Mansur

Status of Hadith and the Importance of Hadith

All things which Allah revealed to Rasulullah are of two types. The first is through the Mala’ik, meaning Jibreel (AS) which we call Wahi-Jalee . Jalee means open (revelation) through the Angel. And these revelations together are called Qur’an Majeed. The second type is when Allah speaks directly to the qalb (heart) of His Rasul without the Angel and it is called Wahi-Khafee and this is the form of the Hadiths. Whatever Rasulullah said was, in fact, from Allah, because Allah says in Holy Qur’an:

"He does not speak from his hawaa (desire); it is nothing except Wahee revealed to him."
[Surah an-Najm 3-4]

A full moon rises over us
The other moon disappears
We never saw the like of your beauty
O face of gladness
You are the sun, you are the moon
You are light upon lights
You are gold and even more priceless
You are the light of hearts
O my beloved, O Muhammad
O star of east and west
O supporter, O praised one
O leader of both Qiblas
Whoever sees your face, gets happiness
O the kind one to both parents
Your clear and cool fountain
Is our goal on the Day of Reckoning